The Japanese Government, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, has granted US$ 430,961 for
1) The Project for Construction of No.13 Basic Education Branch Middle School in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 116,008),
2) The Project for Construction of Mawlitekalay Ywar Thit Basic Education Post Primary School in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 89,615),
3) The Project for Construction of Htomar Village Basic Education Branch High School in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 87,354) and
4) The Project for Construction of Nan Chaung Village Basic Education Branch Middle School in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 137,984).

The handover ceremonies of the above 4 projects took place in Kalay Township on 11th, 12th and 13th July 2017, respectively. Ms. Naoko FUJIWARA, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, Daw Thant Wai Kyaw, Member of Sagaing Region Hluttaw elected for Kalay Consistency No.1, Committee Chairpersons, committee members of the construction projects, and local residents attended the ceremonies.

Although the number of students had been increasing year by year, No. 13 Basic Education Branch Middle School had to limit the enrollment of new students, due to the insufficient number of classrooms. Therefore, more than 200 students had studied in a private school with their heavy financial burdens. Moreover, students had been studying in the congested classrooms. In order to tackle this issue, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a one-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) building with 5 classrooms, full furniture, and 5 lavatories. The project will benefit 1,321 students of the school.

Mawlitekalay Basic Education Branch Middle School (BEBMS) had been seriously damaged by the flood in 2015 and moved to the village near Ywar Thit Village. Subsequently, Mawlitekalay BEBMS and Ywar Thit Village Basic Education Primary School merged into Mawlitekalay Ywar Thit Basic Education Post Primary School. However, many students had been studying in a neighbor monastery due to the lack of school building. In order to secure a proper learning environment, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a one-storey R.C.C. building with 5 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 176 students of the school.

Similarly, a school building in Htomar Village Basic Education Branch High School had been flooded at the height of 5 feet by the flood in 2015. However, students had been studying in that deteriorated building, due to the lack of school building. In order to provide a secure learning environment, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a one-storey R.C.C. building with 5 classrooms, full furniture, and 4 lavatories. The project will benefit 790 students of the school.

Two old school buildings in Nan Chaung Village Basic Education Branch Middle School had been affected by the flood in 2015. Although the basement of buildings and wooden poles had been decayed, a lot of students had been studying there, due to the lack of school building. In order to secure an appropriate education environment, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a two-storey R.C.C. building with 10 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 165 students of the school.

Japan has experienced many natural disasters so far. Accordingly, Japan has learnt the lessons from the past disasters and introduced the concept "Build Back Better" worldwide. "Build Back Better" is to reconstruct our society after a disaster, much better and stronger than before a disaster in order to reduce potential disaster risks. Based on this concept, the new school buildings which have provided under the GGP scheme, have stronger structure than flood affected buildings.

The Government of Japan has assisted 823 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 400 education projects, 199 healthcare projects, 139 public welfare and environment projects, 50 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.